The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. is such a gem. It is free and has a great variety of art and activities for visitors with all kinds of interests. I love photography and constantly keep an eye on art exhibitions around the city. This time I invite you to go see "The Memory of Time: Contemporary Photographs at the National Gallery of Art, Acquired with the Alfred H. Moses and Fern M. Schad Fund".

The photographs on display present a complex view into photography as a means of artistic expression and as a way to capture reality. The focus is, as the exhibition's name suggests, on time and it's perception. I mention the world complex as this show does not present photographs in historical order. Rather, it looks into how technological advances have changed the way we take photos (as we tend to document every single detail of our lives on social media) and the way we alter photos (digital ages allows us to alter anything and everything to our liking).

The exhibition is divided into five sections: “Traces of History,” “Time Exposed,” “Memory and the Archive,” “Framing Time and Place,” and “Contemporary Ruins.” Some of the photographers on display are Sally Mann, Myra Greene, Binh Dahn, Miyako Ishiuchi, and Vera Lutter. 

As you walk around, you will be reminded of the reality as we know it these days - as an extremely fluid phenomenan that can be altered at will and yet captured in photography with a clean message. Pause in front of the photographs and see what feelings they evoke in you!

The Memory of Time: Contemporary Photographs at the National Gallery of Art, Acquired with the Alfred H. Moses and Fern M. Schad Fund is on display until September 13, 2015 in the West Ground Floor Galleries. 

Miuccia Prada. 2013. 

While I am a huge fan of the city center in Prague, I like to venture out into the suburbs for walks and a bit of greenery. This time, let us take a look at a large natural reserve in Prague 6 called Divoka Sarka.

There is so much to see! As you stroll along hardway paths, you will see towering cliffs, sprawling fields, and deep forests. You will be able to climb the cliff and at the top, enjoy lovely views of Prague and the reserve. If you tire of hiking, you can have a picnic or go swimming at a pool located within the park. You will also be able to take a dip in the lake Džbán (The Pitcher). Locals enjoy biking through the park and many running clubs hold regular races in the reserve in case you wish to join one or two.

I realize that many people travel to Prague to learn about the history and architecture. However, I also think visiting places the locals love is worth an moment. A quick tram/bus trip from the city center, this park is a gem and I highly recommend, you take a stroll there.

Peaceful spot. Prague, Czech Republic. August 2015.

The Prague Castle is indeed an architectural treasure of the Czech Republic. Among countless treasures of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Empire architecture of Prague Castle, you can find intriguining pieces of modern architecture. One of my favorites is Bull Staircase by architect Jože Plecnik of Slovenia.

You can enter the staircase through a beautiful entry next to the Cathedral - in the 3rd Courtyard - and climb down to "At the Ramparts" Garden. The staircase was built in 1929-1931. Design of the staircase is influenced by ancient Minoan art and its name is derived from bronze bulls holding the roof of the northern staircase entrance.

Take your time going down the staircase. As you enter it, you will leave the enclosed courtyard and enter the open space of the spacious castle gardens. A wonderful view will open up in front of you. I enjoy the interaction of the old and the new in architecture and appreciate this staircase of one of Plecnik masterpieces. It fits seamlessly into the surrounding architecture. Yet, it stands out.

If you love architecture, take a moment to admire this lovely architectural gem.

Fashion dressmaker Elizabeth Keckley (1818 - 1907), 

Named the most expensive street in Prague, Parizska ulice is indeed a treasure. It houses stores of world-known fashion houses and is lined with amazing palaces. As you stroll down the street, you will come across Prada, Valentino, Versace, Dior, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, and Bulgari. Jewelry houses, such as Cartier, also make their presence known.

You all know my passion for fashion. And I certaintly walked into most of the shops along the street a few days ago. But ... I also love architecture and believe it is a real treat to look up at the sky and admire the beautiful palaces. They are expertly renovated and painting in all colors of the rainbow. One could stare at  a building for a long time. So many details! So much workmanship to admire!

I highly recommend you visit Prague but if you cannot go anytime soon, scroll down this page to see photos of the lovely house on Parizska ulice. Enjoy!

I enjoy gardening and flowers in bloom bring me a lot of joy. I take photos of flowers and have flower imagery around my apartment. So, it is no surprise that the assignment to come up with flower patterns in my Textile Design class turned out to be my favorite assignment.

First, the students were tasked with creating a moodboard. It is a very important tool in fashion and textile design. The board holds inspiration imagery and tells a color story. Below, you can see the one I created for my assignment. All of the flowers are from photos I took. The color scheme is colorful and light and playfull. Next, it was time to sketch and come up with textile patterns ...

Flower imagery is the most popular in the textile design industry. Many of us have garments with flower patterns. They are also extremely prevalent in home design. I bet you own a pillow or a blanket with patterns inspired by flowers.

I like to use different techniques to generate ideas and design. Below you can see six ideas I came up with. I created cardboard stamps, I drew with color markers, I created stencils for my silk screen. Finally, I used Illustrator and PhotoShop to manipulate the ideas into more complex patterns. 

The possibilities are indeed enless. One can keep finding new beautiful flowers around the world and one can keep coming up with new textile patterns. It is a thrilling and creative journey!

My family lives in Prague and I am very fortunate to take a yearly trip from the US to visit them and to spend three weeks in Europe. Today I wandered through the city and ended up in front of the Dancing House. It is also know as Ginger and Fred. And it is just so lovely! The building opened in 1996 and is the design by Frank Gehry and Vlada Milunič.

I quite enjoy the fluidity of Ginger - the glass part learning on Fred - the more geometric and structural part. They seem to be dancing, right? There is so much energy to this architectural treasure. So much to look at. So much to take in.

The building itself is great but you can also enjoy a wonderful view of the city of Prague from the rooftop bar! Grab a drink and sit on the modern rooftop and soak up the view of the river Vltava, the Prague Castle, and the greenery on the islands on the river.

Are you in Prague? Stop by.

Dancing Building
Jiráskovo náměstí 1981/6
Praha 2, 120 00
Czech Republic

Prague, Czech Republic. August 2015.

There is a close connection between art and fashion. And there is also a close connection between dance and fashion. So, when all of these can come together as a source of inspiration for fashion design, one is in for a real treat. I love art history and came across this lovely Edgar Degas masterpiece. It is on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.

So, here we go - ballet in art. This painting made me think of how ballet is called onto for inspiration for many a world known fashion designer. A quick online search generated so many designs! Enjoy the beautiful details and silhouettes below.

Do you own a garment inspired by ballet? Do you dance? Would you wear a ballet-inspired garments such as the ones below?

The Phillips Collection may be my favorite art museum in Washington D.C. I love the history of the place and enjoy the complex thoughts that go into each curated exhibition. I have seen many a show there and prompt you to see the latest one on display: "American Moments: Photographs from the Phillips Collection".

My friend and I spend an afternoon at the Phillips. We walked through the exhibition - a collection of more than 130 photographs by 33 artists - and then enjoyed a light lunch at the museum's cafe. The exhibition has a lot to tell about photography as an art field and as a documentary/photo-journalistic medium. The topics you will come across? The phenomenon of an American city, machinery as a sign of invention, night life, land and nature, women at work, suburban life, and nature of human identity. And I bet you will discover many more through your own investigation of the art work on display. 

Some of the featured photographers include Louis Faurer, Ansel Adams, Harry Callahan, Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Weston, Jack Delano, Walker Evans, Alfred Eisenstaedt, William Christenberry, Bruce Davidson, Eisenstaedt, Lee Friedlander, and Arnold Newman. 

I promise that as you stroll that exhibition halls, by yourself or with a friend, you will pause many a time. You may lean into to a photo to really investigate it and as you stand back, you may discover a new feeling or a new thought. Isn't it the ultimate goal of each art exhibition? 

"American Moments: Photographs from the Phillips Collection" is on show until September 13, 2015. 

Sunset over the Chesapeake Bay. July 2015. 

I find so much joy in being creative and delving into art and fashion projects. My summer class - Textile Design - is all about creativity in action. I have learned many a technique to generate interesting fabric patterns. One of my favorites is painting on silk.

When I read through the assignment instructions to paint a silk scarf, I ran to the fabric store and eagerly browsed through the variety of silks. I also purchased silk paints. My work station? My kitchen floor! I stretched the fabric on a frame, sat down, and got to working on the scarves. 

I tend to be very systematic in my fashion design work. I value symmetry and geometric shapes. However, for this assignment, I decided to explore my creative skills in a new way. No sketching, no preparation, no thinking. I let my hand slide over the silk and organic shapes started appearing. What a happy and intense moment! Once I applied the paints, the designs came truly alive. 

I am happy with the silk scarf designs. They are lively and full of energy. They are colorful and joyous. I will definitely create more of these!